Combined suction pump, storage container and dispenser



Oct. 16, 1962 H. E. ESKRIDGE COMBINED SUCTION PUMP, STORAGE CONTAINER AND DISPENSER,

Filed April 27, 1961 INVENTOR. HAROLD E. ESKRIDGE ATT YS.

United States Patent 3,058,627 CONEINED SUCTION PUMP, STORAGE CON- TAINER AND DISPENSER Harold E. Eskridge, Barberton, Ohio, assignor of onehalf to C. B. Fischbach, Akron, Ohio Filed Apr. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 106,012 3 Claims. (Cl. 222210) The present invention relates to combined suction pump, storage container and dispenser units or articles, and especially relates to novel and improved unit of this type for processing gasoline or similar liquids.

Many people today have power operated lawn mowers or other gasoline operated equipment, or units at their homes and naturally such units are used repeatedly by their owners. Thus in order to keep gasoline available for use in the units or equipment, many people have gasoline storage cans in their garages, and the storage of inflammable material in a garage naturally presents quite a fire hazard. Furthermore, when one endeavors to pour gasoline from these storage containers into a small gasoline tank, such as one on a power operated lawn mower, frequently the gasoline may be spilled so that an additional fire hazard is created. Furthermore, the gasoline storage containers may leak gasoline out onto the floor during storage use even though some type of a closure and a pouring nozzle or a spout is provided on the gasoline can. Yet another problem that arises frequently is that the gasoline container maybe empty but yet gasoline is required for use of the power tool or apparatus.

Attempts have been made heretofore to provide some type of suction devices by which gasoline can be withdrawn from an automobile gasoline tank of another vehicle or apparatus. However, none of such prior types of apparatus have been very satisfactory, insofar as I am aware.

Another problem that arises in storage of gasoline in the usual metallic container is the storage container may rust, or else the gasoline can be otherwise contaminated when in the storage unit so that transfer of the dirty gasoline to the power apparatus will naturally result in malfunctioning of the motor of the unit.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved unit or article of the type described and characterized by the P ovision of a combined suction device, storage unit and dispensing means which is inert to liquids, such as gasoline, and which unit will have a long service life without deterioration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a convenient size article of the class described and where such article can be made in attractive colors and be easily operated without spilling or leaking any of the transferred liquid either into the article of the invention or when dispensed therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined suction pump, storage container and dispensing unit including a collapsible plastic container and a tube connected to the interior of the container and extending therefrom for convenient insertion into an automobile gas tank, and with the article of the invention having an integral sealing or closure plug for the suction tube fixedly secured to the container of the invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide a convenient, easily operated bellows type of a resilient container to facilitate start of suction action by collapse of the container.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

Reference is now particularly directed to the accompanying drawings wherein:

' ceived therein.

, 3,058,627 Patented Oct. 16, 1962 FIG. 1 shows an elevation, partly broken away and shown in vertical section, of the combination suction pump, storage container and dispensing unit of the invention and showing it in operative association with a container, such as a gasoline tank of an automobile vehicle, the collapsed position of the container of the invention being indicated in dotted line;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the storage unit alone of the article of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of a modified container of the invention.

When referring to corresponding members shown in the drawings and referred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used to facilitate comparison thcrebetween.

In general, the present invention relates to a novel suction pump, storage container and dispensing unit comprising a resilient, usually generally cylindrical closed end container having some type of groove means in its periphery to facilitate collapse of the container, the container being made from a material which is inert to gasoline and similar corrosive liquids, nipple means which are operatively engaged with the container, a suction tube of suitable material and length engaging the nipple means and extending therefrom for insertion of the free end of the tube into a receptacle containing liquid for withdrawal therefrom and flow to the container, and a sealing plug for the free end of the suction tube operatively carried by the container at the top thereof to engage the free end of the suction tube and seal it for storage or transport of liquid in the container.

Attention now is directed to the details of the structure shown in the accompanying drawings, and the novel suction pump, storage container and dispensing unit of the invention is indicated as a Whole by the numeral 1. Such unit or article 1 includes a substantially cylindrical closed end container 2 which has a suction tube 3 operatively connected thereto. The suction tube 3 is adapted to extend a diStance from the container 2 for insertion into a unit such as the gasoline tank 4 of a vehicle (not shown). Normally both the container 2 and tube 3 are made from a suitable plastic material, for example, polyethylene, which material is inert to normal corrosive liquids or solvents, such as gasoline, to be re- Furthermore, the container 2, when made from a resilient plastic material such as polyethylene, can be collapsed, or compressed substantially flat to reduce the storage volume within the tank or container to create suctional forces within the container 2 as it expands back out to its natural size so as to start the flow of liquid from the tank 4 through the tube 3 down into the container 2.

The container 2 is provided with a top 6 and a bottom 7, and preferably the container has a plurality of parallel grooves, or a helical groove 8 provided in its periphery. By the provision of this groove 8, the collapse of the substantially cylindrical container 2 is facilitated, and the inherent resiliency of the material forming the container 2 will cooperate with the groove 8 in conveniently and rapidly moving the container 2 back to its normal size.

FIG. 1 of the drawing shows that some suitable type of nipple means 9 are provided on the top 6 of the container. Usually this nipple 9 may have a plurality of ribs 10 formed thereon to aid in holding the end of the tube 3 in engagement therewith. Naturally the nipple 9 connects to the interior of the container 2 and normally the nipple is formed integrally with the remainder of the container 2.

.As another feature of the unit 1 of the invention, a sealing plug 11 is provided for the normally free end of the tube 3. Such plug 11 usually is formed integrally with the container 2 and is of a suitable outer diameter as to have a closure engagement action with the free end of the tube 3. Hence, when gasoline has been plugged into the container 2 by suctional forces created therein, and it is desired to transport the gasoline within the container 2 to another place, the free end of the tube 3 can be engaged with the closure or sealing plug 11. When in such condition, the container 2 is effectively sealed and the gasoline received therein can be either stored, or transported to a different place, as desired.

When gasoline is to be discharged from the container 2, then the container 2 can be manually compressed to discharge the contents thereof to a desired tank or unit for use, or else the container 2 can be inverted for flow of liquid therefrom by gravity action.

Transport of the unit 1 of the invention is facilitated by providing an integral handle 12, of generally ring shape, on the top 6 of the container. Such handle may be of any suitable size, and the handle may be collapsible, if desired.

In all events, the container 2 can be collapsed either by application of pressure thereto by foot, or else one may manually squeeze the container 2 down into a substantially collapsed condition when it is desired to start flow of gasoline into the container through the suction tube 3.

Other suitable means, such as a releasable clamp, may be used to close the tube 3, when not in use.

It will be realized that the container 2 can be made of any desired size, and usually the container 2 and the associated part secured thereto will be made by conventional forming methods, such as molding or blow molding operations. The material forming the container can be either colored, transparent or semi-transparent, as desired, by the use of conventional compounding techniques.

It is preferred to form the bottom 7 of the container 2 of slightly concave shape as indicated in the drawing, and the grooves 8 as previously indicated may either be a plurality of separate, parallel grooves, or else this may be one continuous helical shaped groove, as desired. If desired, in some instances, a spiral spring can be integrally molded in the container 2a, as shown in FIG. 3, to aid in providing permanent resilience therein, and the spring 20 can be embedded in the plastic. A helical groove 8a is shown.

Vinyl resin of known composition, and inert to gasoline, is another suitable resilient material that can be used in making either the container 2 and/or tube 3.

The container and pump of the invention have a plu rality of uses such as pumping water from the bottom of a boat, a spare gas can for an auto, a gasoline supply for use with any gasoline powered article, etc. Its convenience of filling and emptying greatly facilitates transfer of gasoline from one tank to another.

By use of the unit 1 of the invention, it is possible to avoid the storage of gasoline in a garage as only a desired quantity of liquid could be taken from the tank 4, for example, for prompt transfer over to the tank in the lawn mower or other unit. Any residual gasoline could be returned to the tank 4. Thus a special trip to the gasoline station is not required when gasoline is required in the power equipment. Furthermore, contamination of the gasoline when stored and spilling of the gasoline as transferred from one container to another is avoided.

When the container 2 has good resilience and is compressed, it will pull liquid into it from a tank 4 at the same level as the container, but obviously best action is obtained when the tank 4 is higher than the container.

Hence it is believed that the objects of the invention have been achieved.

While two complete embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of these particular embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A combination suction pump, storage container and dispensing unit comprising a resilient generally cylindrical closed top and bottom end container with a side wall having peripheral grooves at least substantially uniformly axially spaced for the length of the container to facilitate collapse of the container in an axial direction and having sufiicient resilience to reexpand after being collapsed, said container having a relatively small diameter nipple means integral therewith extending axially outward- 1y from said top end thereof and providing the only opening connecting to the interior of said container, an elongate flexible small diameter suction tube with one end thereof engaging said nipple means and extending therefrom for insertion of its free end into a receptacle containing liquid for withdrawal of liquid therefrom and transfer into said container, said container having open centered annular axially outwardly extending handle means having at least one base portion integral with said container and fixedly connected thereto on the outer surface of the top end thereof to expose the open center of the handle means for grasping said container, said handle means having walls thicker than said container side wall, said container on said top having an integral sealing post extending upwardly therefrom for engaging the free end of said suction tube when bent back towards the container to seal such suction tube, said container being relatively wide to provide available area at said ends thereof for convenient application of compressive forces thereto and being adapted to be at least substantially filled by liquid drawn thereinto through said tube, said container having a substantially fiat bottom end on which said container can be supported, and said container at said top end having a concave inner surface in at least a portion thereof forming an inner wall of said container and having said nipple means positioned in said portion at least adjacent the top thereof whereby when the container is inverted to drain the liquid therefrom at least substantially all of such liquid will readily flow therefrom. 2. A combination suction pump, storage container and dispensing unit comprising a resilient generally cylindrical closed top and bottom end container with a side wall having peripheral grooves at least substantially uniformly axially spaced for the length of the container to facilitate collapse of the container in an axial direction and having sufficient resilience to reexpand after being collapsed, said container having a relatively small diameter nipple means integral therewith extending axially outwardly from said top end thereof and providing the only opening connecting to the interior of said container, an elongate flexible small diameter suction tube with one end thereof engaging said nipple means and ex tending therefrom for insertion of its free end into a receptacle containing liquid for withdrawal of liquid therefrom and transfer into said container, said container having axially outwardly extending handle means having at least one base portion integral with and fixedly connected to the top end of said container adjacent the center thereof, said handle means being made of thicker section than said side wall, said container being relatively wide to provide available area at said ends thereof for convenient application of compression forces thereto and being adapted to be at least substantially filled by liquid drawn thereinto through said tube,

said container having a bottom end on which said container can be supported, and

said container at said top end having a concave inner surface in at least a portion thereof forming an inner wall of said container and having said nipple means positioned in said portion at least adjacent the top thereof whereby when the container is inverted to drain the liquid therefrom at least substantially all of such liquid will readily flow therefrom.

3. A combination suction pump, storage container and dispensing unit comprising a generally cylindrical closed top and bottom end fiex ible walled container made from a resilient material, which container has peripheral grooves at least substantially uniformly axially spaced for the length of the container formed by the container wall to provide for collapse of the container in an axial direction by forces applied thereto, which container has sufiicient resilience to reexpan'd after being collapsed,

said container having a relatively small diameter nipple means integral therewith extending upwardly from said top end thereof and providing the only opening connecting to the interior of said container,

an elongate flexible small diameter suction tube having one end thereof engaged with said nipple means and extending therefrom for insertion of its free end into a receptacle containing liquid for withdrawal of liquid therefrom and transfer into said container,

said container having upwardly extending handle means thereon having at least one base portion integral with and fixedly connected to said container adjacent the center of the top end thereof.

said container being relatively wide to provide available area at said ends thereof for convenient appli cation of axially directed compressive forces thereto and being adapted to be at least substantially filled by liquid drawn thereinto through said tube, and

said container having a substantially flat bottom end on which said container can be supported.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 762,299 Fulton June 14, 1904 1,668,895 Fulton May 8, 1928 1,742,183 Bell Jan. 7, 1930 2,353,153 Ferrel July 11, 1944 2,770,399 Gross Nov. 13, 1956 2,784,882 Du Bois Mar. 12, 1957 2,899,110 Parker Aug. 11, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Modern Plastics, vol. 37, No. 9, page 1, May 1960. 

